My new art blog!

Take a look at my new art blog! You can find it at Sun, Moon, Stars
From now on, I'll post my drawings and paintings, together with artist statements, on this new art blog.
Enjoy!!!!

This was painted on rice paper that had been crumpled. The paper was then pasted to matboard.

Ecuador story from my newsletter!

Exploring Ecuador!

This winter and early spring, I spent nine weeks in Ecuador, learning Spanish and doing volunteer work at an organic agriforestry project. Here are some of my impressions of my experience:

Week one: It took me much of the week to adjust to the altitude in Quito (9895 feet above sea level). I also became acquainted with my house parents Alicia and Galo and my teacher Consuelo at the Banana Spanish School (where we did indeed eat a lot of bananas). I got an introduction to Ecuadorian culture when Consuelo took me to a colorful, lively market, filled with all sorts of fruits, vegetables, baked goods, flowers, and other assorted products. There are no English translations for the names of any of the fruits that I purchased. I also got to explore the countryside when Alicia took me out of the city to visit her father, who lives with several of his sons and their families on a small farm, where they grow vegetables and fruits. The fruit trees include lemon, orange, and avocado. I enjoyed climbing a tree to pick some of those delicious avocados. It was truly a culinary adventure.

Week two: After a long week of mind-bending language exercises, I went back with Alicia to visit her father. I drew in my sketchbook and picked avocados and lemons. Alicia made lunch, which consisted of soup and chicken and rice and vegetables. There was popcorn to go into the soup, instead of the crackers that I am accustomed to adding. I truly enjoyed all of my meals but learned, after a bout of indigestion, that I have to be a little more careful when on my culinary adventures.

Week three: Because Consuelo needed to spend more time with her children, I had a change in teachers. I enjoyed getting acquainted with Carlita. We took walks through Quito, and I learned grammar and vocabulary while dodging cars (street crossing in Quito is exciting, to say the least, because there seems to be no concept of pedestrians having the right of way). During the week, I also celebrated Valentine’s Day with my family and with the language school. This holiday is a big deal in Ecuador. It is called "El Dia de la amistad y amor" (day of friendship and love). Quito has the title "la ciudad de los geranios" (city of geraniums). Much of the city was decorated with geraniums on Valentine´s Day. Alicia and her husband Galo went out for a romantic evening. Irene (a doctor who lives with the family) and I took Ody (the family’s French poodle) out for a walk, much to his great glee. Many people and dogs were outside, celebrating the day (it seems that nearly everyone in Ecuador has a dog!). Later, we saw a band marching out of the nearby church, followed by people dancing to the lively rhythms.

Week four: On Tuesday, Carlita and I went to “La Mitad del Mundo” (literally translated, that’s “the middle of the world”). We started with a walk through Quito. I had fun exploring architecture and trees and gardens. After a bus ride, which featured people boarding the bus to sell all sorts of stuff, including chocolates, ice cream, DVDs (all pirated), and loads of other stuff, we arrived at our destination. I was offered a tour with either a Spanish- or an English-speaking guide. I chose the Spanish-speaking guide so that I would get more practice with my listening comprehension. I saw all sorts of interesting things relating to life in the Amazon rain forest, including a giant tarantula, an enormous snake, and a hammock that’s large enough to accommodate an entire family. As an added bonus, I was able to stand directly on the equator, with one foot in the northern hemisphere and the other in the southern hemisphere!

Week five: This was my first week at Bosque de Paz, an organic agriforestry project in the northern part of Ecuador, about 30 miles from the border with Colombia. The family that owns the land consists of Piet Sabbe, originally from Belgium, his wife Olda Peralta, from Las Esmeraldas, on Ecuador’s Pacific coast, and their two daughters, Naomi and Maikin. There were five volunteers: Kevin and Aurelie from La Reunion (near Madagascar), Rolf and Natascha from Germany, and yours truly from... Gringolandia!!!  (That’s the name that Mexican painter Frida Kahlo gave to the United States!) I learned that there are 20 different species of bamboo grown at Bosque de Paz. In addition, there are the banana, coconut, and grapefruit trees and groves of lemon trees and papaya and yucca. If you´re lucky, as I was when I was planting turnips one day, sweet fruit will fall from a tree and split open at your feet and you can have a taste test. If you’re even luckier, you’ll be invited, as I was late one afternoon, to do “social work”: Piet and his children and the volunteers sat at the table on the porch and shelled cocoa beans. That evening, we enjoyed a delectable chocolate spread on our bread!  Another day, when I was super lucky, we drank coconut milk. There is no word in any language that can adequately describe how luscious that was!

Weeks six and seven: I interviewed Piet, who told me his story. A mechanical engineer, he came to Ecuador in the early 1990s to work on an engineering project. He got married and never left Ecuador! He also became interested in the concept of habitat restoration. With his savings, he purchased a small parcel of land in northern Ecuador in 1995. That is how Bosque de Paz (“Peace Forest”) got its start. When Piet and Olda took possession of the property, they observed that the lower part of the main valley had been deforested and replaced by pastureland for cattle to graze.  Because the trees, which act as sponges for the precipitation during the rainy season, were gone, the water washed the top soil from the valleys and the steep slopes. What was left was arid grassland in the valleys and just the remnants of forest on the slopes. In the past, the entire area was a humid cloud forest, filled with many species of plants, birds, monkeys, and other animals. Piet’s first step to restoring the land was to plant bamboo, which grows rapidly and is a good building material.  He also planted vetiver grass, which is stiff and can be used to prevent runoff. After more than 15 years, Piet describes the land as a “young forest.” Piet walks to the forest remnants and collects plants and seedlings in hopes of restoring the forest to its original condition.

Week eight: I spent a few days at Pikyu Pamba, a Quichua community near Ibarra. I was there for a ceremony, which occurred on Monday, March 21st (the vernal equinox). The ceremony was begun with the lighting of the fire, which is considered to be the male spirit.

Next, a deep hole was dug in the earth.  Our Quichua hosts described the earth as our mother, the Pacha Mama. Then food, including potatoes, yams, yucca, beans, chicken, pork, corn, plantains, and pineapples, was prepared. All of this was placed in the hole, along with rocks that had been heated in the fire. Once all of the food was in the ground, hot water was poured over the food. Immediately, steam rose from the hole, which was then covered by a thick cloth and by dirt. A group of musicians began playing their instruments. We took off our shoes and socks, and we danced joyfully to the lively, energetic music. We let our feet sink into the soft, gentle earth, and it felt good. Later, volcanic ash was spread over the stomped-on, squashed earth.

Half an hour later, the dirt and ash was lifted and carefully removed. The food, which had been steamed under the ground, was removed and put into baskets, which were carried into a large building.

Before we could begin to eat, a plate of food was prepared and was taken outside for Pacha Mama. She is our mother so she is honored by being fed first. Then we all enjoyed a meal, which was a celebration of love for our beautiful earth.

Week Nine: During my last week in Ecuador, I reflected on my time there. Carlita and I also managed to visit “el centro historico” (the historic center) and the Botanical Gardens (los jardines botánicos).

In the Botanical Gardens, I saw a display of orchids. They are determined plants that will grow just about anywhere. They will grow on rocks and on the tops of tall trees, as well as from the ground. They come in many colors and sizes. I saw examples of plants from a variety of ecosystems in Ecuador, from rain forest to sierra. Unfortunately, as explained in at the Botanical Gardens, the beautiful ecosystems are endangered by poorly planned, out of control development.

And a final thought of my experience: Despite all of the ecological problems that I observed in Ecuador, many of which we have experienced here in the United States (the destruction of much of the great northeastern forests, among others), I truly enjoyed my time in Ecuador. Shortly before I left, I wrote on Facebook and in a group email: “I never imagined that I would become so attached to people here in Ecuador. And I never imagined, when I first arrived, that I would come to love Ecuador as much as I do right now.”

wildflowers of summer

yes!!! Purple!!!

I drew this while I was watching So You Think You Can Dance. I can feel movement in this flower. Much thanks to the dancers for their beautiful and artistic movement.

I found this at River Lea, the home of the Grand Island Historical Society.

just purple. more purple. so many wildflowers are purple...

I was trying to channel my inner Georgia O'Keefe!!!

This grows everywhere. It's called a weed but it

's so pretty and, of course, purple.

Apparently, purple flowers are very hardy in the wild.

Queen Anne's Lace is another very sturdy plant.

These guys will not wait on line. If you don't draw their portrait immediately, they will protest by wilting to nothing! They have set a speed record for wilting to nothing.

Rose of Sharon.

Weed? Flower? I've learned this year that the difference between the two is as simple as I love it, I love it not...

Purple rules!!

These reminded me of umbrellas!!!

Just when I was ready to give up on finding a flower that I hadn't already drawn, I found this bluish violet flower!

This hydrangea isn't technically a wild flower. But I drew it anyway. Oh! This was work, with all of those little flowerettes! But... it's good for character building... I guess...

This one seems to me to be the epitome of summertime...

Another version of a daisy.

cone flower

Yellow flowers abound, too! And purple and yellow are complementary colors!!! Nature is awesome!

Black eyed Susan, version two

spring unfolding

Buckhorn Island State Park on May 11th. I was taking a walk through the park and was fascinated by the baby leaves on some of the trees at Buckhorn, which is a nature preserve and an Important Bird Area. It is a restored wetlands.

Pear blossoms, May 13th. One of the fleeting pleasures of spring, these flowers have since fallen from the tree and scattered to the winds.

Lilacs, May 14th. Another fleeting pleasure of spring. These flowers last for a short moment of intense color and aroma and then disappear.

grape hyacinths, May 15th. Another early spring flower, they help to bring beautiful vivid color after the grayness of winter.

leaves from apple tree, May 16th. It's from the tree in front of my house.

maple, May 17th. Young leaves are, for a brief time, flowers. They are delicate, soft, and a light green, with a bit of yellow mixed in. They are the promise of beauty.

apple blossoms, May 18th. The more blossoms, the more apples in the fall! I saw the shadow of pink in these white blossoms.

blue spruce and dandelion, May19th. The blue spruce is an evergreen but I included it in the unfolding spring project because it puts out new growth in the spring. The dandelion is, of course, a sign that spring has come. It's also an indication that it's time to get the lawn mower out and running!!!

rose of sharon, May 20th. This bush matures later than the others so I was able to catch it with its buds barely open.

new leaves on trees at library, May 21st. So soft and delicate, these leaves are another example of how leaves start their lives as flowers.

sorrel in garden, May 22nd. The sorrel grows everywhere. It resembles clover in that it has three sections. But sorrel leaves are heart-shaped while clover leaves are round. Also sorrel can be eaten or put into soup. The leaves have a lemony flavor, which is quite yummy!

My friend Ellen calls this a "helicopter." Some of these little critters grow up to become great big maple trees.

Here are some flowers that I found on one of my walks. One thing that I discovered is that buttercups don't last long after being picked. I had to draw fast before the petals all fell off!

I was working in a garden and I pruned a Japanese maple. I took one of the leaves home to draw, as I really like the color.

Here are some more flowers that I found by the side of the road.

Here is a plant that I found next to the ditch near the library. Fortunately, I didn't have to jump into the ditch to get the plant but I probably would have!!!

This was part of the leftovers from a plant that was pruned outside of Saint Martin in the Fields...

I was thrilled to find some daisies growing alongside a ditch, and I was even more thrilled when I didn't fall into the ditch!

r

I went to my friend Orphia's house to help her clean up some of her flower beds. They were full of weeds. But I found the forget-me-nots to be very pretty.

I found these lovely flowers growing on a bush when I cleaned up the gardens at my friend Kathy's house.

Here is a leaf from the apple trees.

This is a flower that I picked during a walk.

Here is something else that I found growing by the side of the road.

These are leaves from the pear tree.

I went to Ruth's house to help her clear her gardens. She once decided that she really liked ferns. That was thirty years ago. The ferns have taken over the garden, and I pulled many of them out.

This is a leaf from the rose of sharon bush behind my parents' house.

This is a strong, determined, and resilient plant that grows in the cracks of the driveway.

Ecuador!!!

A new adventure for a new year!
On January 30th, I will be headed to Quito, Ecuador, for a month at the
Banana Spanish School. 
It is a total immersion program. I will take four hours of lessons at the language school daily (Monday through Friday) and will live with an Ecuadorian family. The goal is for me to speak Spanish all of the time so that I can improve my Spanish language skills.
For the second month that I am in Ecuador, I will be participating in a volunteer program at an organic farm on the Pacific coast. I am looking forward to learning about organic farming, to seeing the Pacific Ocean, and to getting practical use of the Spanish language skills that I intend to acquire at the Banana Spanish School.
OK. So I am also looking forward to escaping from this frozen wasteland (aka Western New York in the middle of winter). I cannot deny it.
When I come back, I'll have plenty of stories and pictures to share... with a little bit more color than this one. Yep, that's the blue spruce in front of my house. Last week, it was covered with snow. It was quite a sight. As I had just acquired a camera, I thought that I would take a picture of the snow-laden tree. So... here it is.
And... Ecuador... here I come! My first time in South America!
Bye for now!

Niagara River reflections

I love to walk by the Niagara River. Yesterday, as I was headed to the Holiday Inn to go swimming, I looked intently at the water, which reflected the vast blueness of the sky. It was a delight to watch the ducks paddling around in the water. It's fun to watch them dive headfirst into the water, with their little backsides wobbling in the air, as if they were straight out of the comics. I saw the geese parading along the shoreline. I saw people, too, riding on their bicycles, walking their dogs, mowing their laws, checking their mail. It's a real gift, these sunny October days. We know that the air is just going to get colder and that only the stubborn walkers, such as I, will be left to walk along the shores of the river and wonder what's beneath all of that ice.

So. The Niagara River. It is beautiful, powerful, and the stuff of legend. When I walk in Buckhorn Island State Park, there is a spot from which I can see the mist that rises from Niagara Falls. It is an amazing thing to see
this gigantic mist rising from across the river. Niagara Falls, of course, is even more awe-inspiring up close. Niagara Falls has its share of stories and legends. There have been many stories of people climbing into barrels and going over the falls. I suppose that would be an exciting way to spend an afternoon although just the thought of it is enough to inspire feelings of motion sickness in me!
One of these legends about Niagara Falls concerns a young maid of the Neuter tribe, Lelawalo. She was the chief's daughter, and she was sacrificed by being placed in a canoe filled with food, which was then sent over the falls.To keep her from smashing into the rocks, one of the sons of a god caught her in his arms. In her new world beneath the falls, the maiden was told by one of the sons of a god that a malevolent snake lived in this watery world and that he was going to poison all of the drinking water. The people would keel over and die! Eventually, men killed the snake with spears. The snake died in the shape of a horseshoe. Apparently, that is the story behind the Horseshoe Falls being in that particular shape.
You're probably wondering why I mentioned this legend.

Well, I'm mentioning it because of the story about a malevolent snake, that became poisonous and threatened to poison all of the drinking water. Many years later, that poisonous snake must have appeared in human form or in the form of industry. Until fairly recently, the river was full of toxic substances, dumped, not by snakes, but by chemical companies and other industries. The dangerous compounds in the river included PCBs, mercury, dioxin, arsenic, lead, and pesticides. It was a pretty toxic soup. The Niagara River connects Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, so toxins travel through those bodies of water, eventually to the Atlantic Ocean. Lake Erie, for sure, has had its own environmental problems as well. At one point, it is alleged that Lake Erie caught on fire. There is some dispute about that. Some people say that the lake caught on fire, while other people say, no, it was just some junk in the lake that caught on fire. Still. Stuff doesn't usually catch on fire when it's floating in water so there must have been something flammable (or inflammable??? why do they mean the same thing???) in the water that shouldn't have been in there.

I've been reading about efforts to clean up the Niagara River. Back in 1987, the United States and Canada worked together on a cooperative transboundary management plan to reduce the emissions of toxic waste into the Niagara River. And, indeed, the amount of contaminants in the river has been lessening to the point that there is fish in the river once again. These efforts at cleaning the river continue to this day. When I walk through Buckhorn Island State Park, I pass people with fishing rods, hoping to catch something in the river. Sometimes, I walk close enough to the water to see schools of tiny fish swimming in the river. I'm not sure that I would eat the fish that came out of the Niagara River but you never know. Perhaps it is edible. I'd like to think that is so. I'd like to think that we have come a long ways since the days when owners of chemical companies located along Buffalo Avenue in Niagara Falls felt that it was OK to build pipelines and dump untreated waste directly into the river. I'd like to think that the latter-day malevolent snake of the river has been tamed and that it is no longer poisoning the water because water is supposed to maintain life, not to bring about death.

Soon it will be winter. There will be ice in the river and ice chunks going over the falls. It will be beautiful. And, I hope that it will be, if not this year, then at some point in the future, safe and not contaminated with that malevolent snake's poisons.

Note: This post is part of Church World Service's blog action day. Check it out at: Blog Action Day

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